Related

LONDON – For Diane Roy, it was just a bad day, a day for that whatever reason, her top speed was just not there.Touted as one of Canada's top Paralympic Games medal hopes in athletics, the wheelchair racer from Sherbrooke, Que., was ninth Sunday in her favored event, the 5,000 metres for the T54 class.Second in the 5,000 at Beijing, where she also earned two bronze medals at shorter distances, Roy hung back in the field of 10 through much of the very tactical race before getting herself into position for the sprint over the final 200 metres.“I was in a good place,” she said. “At 200 metres, I was there, but I don't know why my top speed doesn't want to go high today. Usually my top speed is really, really better than that.”Edith Wolf of Switzerland, who earned silver in the 5,000 at Athens in 2004, took gold in a relatively slow time of 12 minutes, 27.87 seconds, edging American Shirley Reilly by half a front wheel length. Christie Dawes of Australia was third in 12:28.24.Roy was timed in 12:29.27 as the field finished in a tight bunch.Keria-Lyn Frie of Saskatoon, competing in her first Paralympics was a strong fourth in 12:28.86.The winning time was nearly 30 seconds off the Paralympic record of 11:59.51 set by Wakako Tschuda of Japan in winning gold in 2004 and more than a minute off Roy's world record of 11:16.96.Roy wasn't the only medalist from Beijing to have a tough day. Gold medalist Amanda McGrory of the U.S. finished seventh and bronze medalist Shelley Woods of Great Britain was eighth.“Everybody is surprised about the top three because nobody from Beijing is on the podium,” said Roy, 41. “We are far from it. But it is the 5,000. You never know. Seven of 10 could be on the podium for gold. I know everybody is strong.”Roy, who will also race the 400, 800, 1,500 and marathon at London, said she felt good in training the last couple of days and on the warm-up track prior to the race.“We worked a lot this summer to have top speed. In this stadium, it's not working. I don't know why.”Roy said she stayed behind early, in part, to play it careful and to stay away from potential crashes. In Beijing, a six-person crash in the penultimate lap of the 5,000, a race Roy won and went on to receive a gold medal for. She had to return it, however, after a protest and a decision to re-run the race days later, with Roy settling for the silver in that one.Frie, 25, said she was “thrilled” with her fourth-place finish.“I literally started racing the 5,000 this past January and that's my eighth one I've done. I just squeezed into the final and I always felt that I deserved to be there and I think I demonstrated that out there.”Frie was in a comfortable position on the inside on the turn for home on the final lap.“I felt strong, I just didn't have the last 50 metres to edge out the Australian, but I'm still just on top of the world right now.”gkingston@vancouversun.com

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Saskatoon loves its Christmas lights. The Enchanted Forest draws thousands of vehicles each week. The late Bob Hinitt worked for months building his light display, which drew thousands of cars each year to Wiggins Avenue. And Scott Lambie on Clinkskill Drive has continued the tradition with more than 70,000 dancing lights (up from 50,000 last […]

When it comes to gift giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. But many are wondering if Mayor Drew Dilkens was thinking at all when he gave Olympic superstar Michael Phelps — whose battles with booze are well known — a big bottle of Canadian Club whisky.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.